Higher education is currently forcing many adult learners to jump through hoops to complete their degrees. Although many of these nontraditional students can be successful, colleges and universities should still meet adult learners where they are, as higher ed faces dwindling enrollment and a workforce that is relying less on employees with four-year degrees.\xa0
Higher ed institutions can start the process of change themselves, but much of the work still requires support from Congress. To help understand how the gap between both entities can be bridged, Dr. Drumm McNaughton spoke with Julie Peller, who uses her past experience at the House of Representatives and Department of Education to serve as executive director of Higher Learning Advocates (HLA), which supports and advances policy changes to increase postsecondary access and success.\xa0
"As we go into the new Congress, in the new year, we are really focusing on this Widen the Path campaign. How can we bring partners together? How can we lift up voices of both learners, institutions, and community members who are doing this and bring that story to Washington so that we can make change?" - Julie Peller
Podcast Highlights
\u2192\xa0Podcast Transcript PDF of "Widen the Path: Policy Changes to Increase Access to Higher Ed"
About the Guest
Julie Peller - Executive Director at Higher Learning Advocates\xa0
Julie Peller is Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates (HLA), a bipartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is to shift federal policy to accelerate responsiveness to support the success of today\u2019s postsecondary students. She brings a deep background in federal postsecondary education policy, federal budgeting, and professional management. Prior to joining HLA, Julie was Lumina Foundation\u2019s first director of federal policy where she led the development and advancement of the foundation\u2019s federal policy agenda and established the foundation\u2019s Washington, DC office.
Julie also brings significant federal legislative policy experience to HLA. She served as a senior policy advisor and the deputy staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 Committee on Education and Labor. On Capitol Hill, she was intimately involved with significant changes to the Higher Education Act, federal student aid programs, and other major higher education issues such as college cost reduction. Before working in Congress, Julie was a Presidential Management Fellow, where she served at the Department of Education as a budget analyst for a variety of K-12 programs.
Julie received her master\u2019s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science and public policy from The George Washington University. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two young sons.
About the Host
Dr. Drumm McNaughton, host and consultant to higher ed institutions. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm\u2019s website, https://changinghighered.com/.
The Change Leader\u2019s Social Media Links
Keywords: #ChangingHigherEd #HigherEducation #WidenthePath
\xa0